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Learning Resource Center Newsletter September 2022

Letter from the LRC

Greetings, CSUCI Community, and welcome to the fall of 2022! We are excited to share all the resources and programs the Learning Resource Center has to offer this semester! We opened for services on Monday, August 29th, and have been in full swing! With over fifty peer educators supporting a wide array of subject areas, the LRC supports all visitors with developing healthy academic habits and increased conceptual understanding. The LRC will continue to offer hybrid services this fall, with both in-person and online Center hours. We welcome all campus members to our Center spaces and are thrilled to share this newsletter and our announcements for the start of the semester! Find yourself "in the Zone" at the LRC! Have a great fall! ~

Brook Masters, Senior Coordinator of Student Academic Success Services

LRC EVENTS

Returning to in-person programming means we can offer events in the Center once again! Join us for these opportunities to relax, restore, and reset between homework sessions and exam prep!

The LRC Welcomes Dr. Brooke Ernest as Math Faculty Liaison

I am an Assistant Professor in the Mathematics department. I was a first-generation college student, and I earned my Ph.D. in Mathematics and Science Education from a joint doctoral program at San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego. My research interests are multifaceted and focus on teaching practices and innovative pedagogies, within mathematics and beyond, that foster students’ development of the authentic practices of mathematicians, as well as their self-efficacy, inquisitiveness about and creativity in mathematics, and their sense of belonging in the STEM disciplines. In particular, I examine the authentic practices of mathematicians in which students can engage, such as mathematical play and acts of imagination, and that can help students generate mathematical ideas which are new to them. Much of my research is interdisciplinary, looking at how points of contact between mathematics and other disciplines can be leveraged to enrich students’ learning experiences and opportunities. Here, I place a particular emphasis on artistic engagement in mathematics courses, as well as quantitative literacy in the social sciences and beyond. In general, in my research and my teaching, I am influenced by sociocultural theories, as well as situated and embodied cognition.

I believe that mathematics is a social activity, built from sense-making endeavors, and is best learned as such. This means my courses tend to be very interactive! I design my courses with active and inquiry-oriented learning in mind, engaging students in tasks that require them to do more than memorize steps and solve basic problems. Often this means broadening students’ notions of what it means to “do” mathematics by having them engage in group activities that serve as guided explorations that will help them develop meaning for, and a conceptual understanding of, mathematical ideas. The mathematical ideas are refined through whole-class discussion, in which the students are the primary contributors. I like to tell my students that it doesn't matter if you get an answer right if you can't explain how you thought about the task.

I look forward to my new role as the math faculty liaison to the Learning Resource Center. I hope to be able to lend my expertise to the LRC where useful and to bring suggestions from other faculty on how the LRC can serve students in their courses

The LRC launches Math MINDS

This fall, the LRC will launch our Math MINDS program, funded through a CSU Chancellor's Award to fund innovative academic support programs to facilitate first-year students' success in quantitative reasoning courses. Led by Math Faculty Liaison, Dr. Brooke Ernest, the Math MINDS program brings together Special Consultants in the field of Math Education to design quantitative reasoning workshops that engage participants in interactive and collaborative activities that enhance mathematical mindsets and thinking. Participants will complete a semester of co-curricular programmatic elements to support their success in their first-year Quantitative Reasoning course this fall. The program will repeat in the spring, with 30 students invited to participate each semester!

Expanding our collaboration with faculty

This summer, fourteen faculty members enrolled in the Embedded Peer Education Collaborative Faculty Institute! This professional development opportunity, developed in partnership with Teaching and Learning Innovations at CSUCI, engaged faculty members in strategic course design elements to intentionally integrate embedded peer educators in student learning outcomes and metacognitive skill development in the classroom. This opportunity was made possible through a generous gift from the Jeff T. Green Family Foundation. The EPEC Faculty Institute will be offered again in the Summer of 2023!

Meet the Lead Tutors!

Lead Tutors in the LRC are experienced peer educators who serve as mentors to newer tutors. They assist the Center's Professional Staff members with LRC management, project oversight, tutor training, and outreach and engagement. As students themselves, Lead Tutors provide a critical perspective on our programming and help shape the Center's offerings to best meet the community's needs.

Meet your Lead Tutors! From left to right: Piolo Miguel Sanchez, Louie Rivera, Jasmine Torres, Thomas Adams, Emiko Ito, Jet Kauffman, Keily Valdez Sereno, Cristal Quezada, Kayla Randall

LRC Subjects Supported for Fall 2022

To find tutor availability, please visit the Learning Resource Center webpage!

Meet the LRC Peer Mentor Ambassadors

LRC Peer Mentor Ambassadors are now available for appointments! Mentees can meet with their PMA regularly throughout the semester to work on time management, test prep skills, self-beliefs, and major-related guidance. Our PMAs bring their wisdom and compassion as both students and experienced tutors in their academic areas of expertise. They are a team of all-stars who find joy in helping other students achieve their goals! To request to meet with an LRC Peer Mentor Ambassador, visit our LRC Peer Mentor Ambassador webpage!

LRC Book Recommendation

Were you ever taught how to learn? Are you finding it hard to adjust to the demands of college? If not in college, are you having difficulty adjusting to the demands of your current stage of education? Are you struggling in any of your courses?

This book lets you in on one of the best-kept secrets in education: Any student can use simple straightforward strategies to start making A's in his or her courses and enjoy a lifetime of deep effective learning.

The authors distill their years of experience as learners and educators to present the key insights and advice from their acclaimed book, Teach Students How to Learn, directly to you. This book is like a front-row seat to one of Saundra Yancy McGuire's acclaimed student workshops that have facilitated dramatic improvements in student learning over the last three decades.

You will read about the struggles and successes of your peers, engage in some eye-opening exercises, and find much reflect to on and put immediately into practice.

Teach Yourself How to Learn is available for purchase on Amazon!

Tutor Spotlight

Meet our tutor Emiko!

Emiko tutors for EMEC, Computer Science, and Physics! She is majoring in Mechatronics Engineering and minoring in Computer Science. Her favorite color is yellow and she enjoys watching movies, cooking, and hanging out with her friends. A fun fact about Emiko is that she loves bears!

"Dear Tutor"

Dear Vanessa, I am struggling with procrastination! I just feel so overwhelmed that I can't even begin my assignments. What advice do you have for me? -Sincerely, Overdue and Overwhelmed Student

Hi, Overdue and Overwhelmed student! I can completely understand how hard it is to deal with procrastination. My advice to you would be to start off with creating a weekly to-do list. I would highly recommend that you do this every Sunday, just begin by listing what assignments, tasks, or readings you have to do for the week. Breaking large tasks into smaller, less overwhelming tasks over a few days can make it easier to experience forward-moving progress! And the feeling of checking items off of your to-do list is super rewarding! Be sure to celebrate the small wins - sometimes just showing up is worth some self-praise, especially when you are feeling overwhelmed! Hang in there! For more tips and tricks individualized for your personal time management approach, please visit the LRC and connect with a Peer Mentor Ambassador!

LRC "Brain Food"

Vanessa's favorite snack when studying!

“When feeling overwhelm and stress, I like to eat 'berry yogurt'. Especially with strawberries and blueberries. This snack definitely helps sweeten my stress!"
  • 1 cup Greek yogurt, plain
  • 1/2 cup berries of your choice
  • 1/4 cup granola, chia seeds, or another grain
  • Small handful of nuts
  • Honey, stevia, agave or sweetener of your choice

Protein-packed and delicious, too!

NOW HIRING STUDENT ASSISTANTS

Join our team at the Learning Resource Center! Competitive Wage! Flexible Hours!

LRC Student Assistants are needed for our physical and online centers. Learning Resource Center (LRC) Student Assistants serve as the first line of contact for students visiting the Center. They maintain a presence at the front desk in the physical and online center and fulfill various administrative duties. Front desk duties involve facilitating LRC visitor check-in, appointment scheduling, greeting visitors, matching students with appropriate tutoring staff members, and assisting students with checking in and out properly, for both online and in-person LRC visitors. Additional administrative tasks include data entry in various database systems, assisting LRC staff with events, outreach and engagement activities, and administrative tasks such as making flyers and other publications, copying/faxing/scanning information, filing, running errands on campus, etc. In addition to these duties, Student Assistants may be involved in various trainings, duties, or special projects as assigned for the center.

For more information, please visit the LRC Hiring Webpage! Applicants must submit the following materials:

  • Completed Student Assistant Application emailed to lysandra.garcia@csuci.edu
  • Resume emailed to lysandra.garcia@csuci.edu
  • Cover letter emailed to lysandra.garcia@csuci.edu
  • Signed LRC Student Assistant Position Description emailed to lysandra.garcia@csuci.edu
Created By
Brook Masters
Appreciate

Credits:

Created with images by annuar83 - "Office workplace with glasses and plant. Notebook with to do list on wooden table from above, planning and design concept." • Olga Zarytska - "Healthy breakfast. Two jars with tasty parfaits made of granola, berries and yogurt on white wooden table. Shot at angle."